Chapter 19: Fist against Knife

Erhardt sits down on one of the training area bench. Ruminating on what happened earlier.

When the trio had recovered. Soloman had scolded them for trespassing and learned that the lab had an airvent large enough for them to go through. And in the end the trio were exempt from work to recover but have to do only menial chores for six months afterwards.

They also learned that the obrilon had created a great tremor which the base felt.

Sighing in exhaustion. He removes his gloves and activates his stone armor on his hands, pull out his carving knife and a block of wood he bought from Brindel, and began whittling.

Minutes past as he whittles, remembering on how he used wander his hometown, Hemsburg, dark forests, unspoiled by the industrial plants and high-rise buildings, by himself in his youth and how he picked up a desire for woodcarving, much to his parents chagrin, until he made a simple figurine of a lykulf. A species of horse-sized wolves known as the heraldry and mounts of his people.

He then stops and looks to the area.

The area had some activities, mainly musketmen training to put on bayonets, the archaic one where the handle was shoved into the barrel, as fast as they can followed by charging, to men and women sparring, but most were just lazing around to the ringing of iron on iron waiting for lunch, which is at three.

His eye's then wanders till he sees Solaina and scowls.

She was currently attacking a dummy, a bayonet attached to her musket, but the way she strikes was embarrassing. Her stance is too narrow to keep balance while her strikes overreach and leaves her wide open for a counterattack.

He then stands up and walks to her.

"What the hell are you doing!" He bellows.

Solaina then looks towards him with indignation.

"Training. Unlike someone whose playing with his wood."

Erhardt snorts.

"Ha! At least I'm training my hands by carving wood rather than trying to pass off playing as training."

Solaina scowls, her ears now pointing skywards.

"I'll have you know that I have military training!"

Erhardt then laughs, doubling over.

"If that's elven military training. Then a child playing with wooden sword would be better."

"Then why don't I show you then!"

Maybe a part of him wanted to teach her the flaws in her melee, maybe it's the thought of humiliating or beating an Elf, but Erhardt accepts with a smirk and dons his cestus.

He and Solaina then goes into the sparring ring and gets into battle stance.

Erhardt widen his stance and raised his right arm to shield his front, with his left fist facing forward.

Solaina began moving forward and back, like dancing, and moving her musket, held like a spear to blocking positions. Much to Erhardt surprise and anger.

"Does she take battle as a damn joke! Wait something seems familiar." Recalling his memories he heard the words of his instructor.

"In martial art there are five styles, based on the elemental movement of the mage. Today I will tell you about wind style. Compare to the other four the wind style, mostly used by the Elves, is kick-based. Relying on constant movement and deception, which also looks like dancing. Compared to our earth style it beats you at range and speed but you have solid footing and strong punches."

Erhardt began raising his fist to a defensive position as they began circling to find a gap.

Solaina surges forwards and swings which Erhardt effortlessly backstep as she spun.

When Solaina used the momentum to deliver a reverse roundhouse kick.

Erhardt ducks and charge forward to counter.

When he sees her foot fly towards, far longer than his punch. And tries to pull back into a block but her kick struck.

Pain stung his chest as her kick struck then saw her bayonet coming down on his head and instinctively blocked before she leapt back.

"Compared to the other styles the wind uses the cowardly tactics of hit and run, weakening their foes with fast but weak kicks before pulling back and striking at another angle, and finished with a slow but deadly strike. A well-aimed punch will knock them down, especially if their an Elf. But good luck getting a clean hit if you just swing your fists. The best way to defeat them is to-"

"First find a pattern, particularly if they're inexperience"

Erhardt braced his center as Solaina feint left and straight kick.

"Compared to the other three the earth style will rarely throw the first punch as it's, honestly, slow as fuck. And relies on conserving your energy and weathering through the assault till the right moment comes. But it can tank strikes or deflect them like no tomorrow. And when you punch make sure it hits since you'll have to see it through which-"

"Leave a gap in your defence." Another kick flew overs his before instinctively covering his front, rather then counter like before. Blocking the predicted straight kick.

A few more seconds passed as Erhardt weathers Solaina's assaults, blocking or deflecting her kicks and bayonet swings, as he slowly sees her attack pattern.

Solain leapt back from another failed assault, he saw her legs beginning to shake while her breathing became more erratic.

Erhardt cracks his knuckles, the moment is here.

Another bayonet stab followed by the roundhouse was dodged and, like he predicted, she went for another front kick.

Only for Erhrardt to grabbed it and threw her off, exposing her side. And with a shot to the liver she immediately crumpled to the ground like a wet towel.

He then dusts off his hands and began to walk away.

"I-I'm not done."

He turned and saw the Elf back her feet in combat stance, bayonet at ready.

Maybe a part of him knows that her vulnerability in melee is a liability, maybe it was an excuse to knock an Elf down, or maybe he was sympathetic to her plight.

"Your stance is wrong," he briskly said.

Solaina then looks to him in confusion.

He sighs and turns to face her.

"Your stance is too narrow. You need to spread your legs a bit farther and bend your knees. Or else you'll easily get knocked. Not only that but you strike too far, in a fight against multiple opponents another could easily strike you when you attack. But, to your credit, your speed and strike, though predictable, was quick, debilitating, and accurate."

Solaina, to his mild surprise, then begin correcting her stance like he said.

"Well. You're getting there."

They then spar again, where Solaina had held up about five or so seconds longer before Erhardt ends it with a gut punch, and they agree that he would train her self-defence thrice a week,but if she wants to learns to use her bayonetted carbine she has to ask someone who uses a polearm, as Erhardt has no knowledge of using polearms.